Art museum to change contractors for new building

The Art Museum of Western Virginia has decided not to use its pre-construction phase contractor, Hunt Construction Group, for the construction phase of its new museum project, museum executive director Georganne Bingham said.

She insisted the 11th-hour move will not affect the timetable for the $46 million project. "Absolutely not. We're still on schedule." Museum officials, who staged a ceremonial groundbreaking Sept. 10, said they want to start excavation work on the site behind Billy's Ritz restaurant this fall and open the new museum in two years.

Bingham said the contract with Hunt Construction gave the museum the option to go a different way at construction time. "It's all legal. It's all amicable. I'm sure they're disappointed. We have to look after our donors and what's best for the project."

Hunt officials had no comment.

Bingham declined to comment on the reason for the switch, but said they plan to announce the general contractor for the project soon.

Bingham said the museum has not yet received a final number on construction costs, but assumes it will be "a little bit over" their earlier estimates, in part because of rising building costs associated with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. "Building materials all over the country are going out of sight."